Prague favours diplomatic solution to Ukraine crisis

The Czech Republic is in favour of a diplomatic solution to the crisis in
Ukraine, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka told journalists ahead of
Thursday’s emergency meeting of EU leaders in Brussels. EU leaders are to
consider “targeted measures” against Russia in response to its military
invasion of the Crimean peninsula, but with the alliance divided over
economic sanctions, the EU is expected to opt for diplomatic measures such
as curtailing talks on visa free travel with Russia and freezing the assets
of selected Russian officials. While some EU leaders are pushing for tough
punitive measures as a clear signal to Moscow that violation of
international law will not be tolerated, others are against tough measures
for fear they might further aggravate the situation. Most EU member states
are also heavily dependent on crude oil and gas from Russia.